The Concept
An immersive game combining heritage, fiction, and object manipulation to read the building in a new way.
Created by the agency Cultival, the experience 'Mazarin and the Guardians of the Secret' sets an intrigue in the salons and galleries of the Richelieu site of the National Library of France.
Participants, grouped in teams of 2-6, receive an investigator's case and are accompanied by actors: the mechanics combine observation, manipulation, and stage interactions.
Plan for a total of 1h45: 15 minutes welcome then 1h30 gameplay, pacing designed to preserve attention and concrete discoveries.
Recommended audience aged 10 and up.
Why Go?
Four reasons that make you want to join the investigation.
The Route and Locations
The route takes advantage of historical settings, turning them into clues to read and handle.
The Mazarin Gallery and the Oval Room are not just backdrops: woodwork, steps, and furniture become observation points, hiding places and setups for challenges.
The scenography plays on contrasts: spaces bathed in light and rooms with more muted atmospheres alternate, forcing visitors to slow down, look closely in displays, and touch playful objects.
The circulation—hallways, salons, and heritage rooms—is designed like a score: each stop offers a gesture, a reading, or a code to solve, turning the visit into a path of active attention.
Editor's note
It's a lively and concrete way to learn to read a place: the theatrical investigation challenges our visiting habits and transforms BnF Richelieu into a shared focus ground.
A must-try for those who want to combine curiosity, cooperation, and the joy of doing.
The Puzzles and Narrative
A fiction centered around Mazarin guides the challenges without confusing history with staging.
The plot takes as its thread a will attributed to the cardinal and the mysterious brotherhood of the Guardians of the Secret: this fictional premise provides coherence to the challenges without pretending to rewrite history.
Challenges alternate visual decoding, tactile manipulations, and stage interactions, inviting the player to become an actor: reading furniture, assembling pieces, deciphering graphic codes.
The real tension of the route arises from the art of linking clues scattered through the site's heritage: one must observe carefully and connect details to reconstruct the puzzle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my tickets?
Reservation is mandatory: tickets are sold online via partner platforms (Cultival, Tiqets, Fnac Spectacles and similar resellers). Check the final price and any service fees with your chosen reseller.
What is the duration and flow of a session?
Total duration is 1h45: 15 minutes welcome, then 1h30 gameplay, divided between briefing, exploring rooms, manipulations, and interactions with actors.
Who is the audience and what team size?
Recommended for ages 10 and up, for teams of 2 to 6 players; suitable for families, groups of friends, or small corporate teams.
What are the prices and where is the meeting point?
Public prices: adult €22, 18-26 years €18, under 18 €15. Meeting point: BnF Richelieu, 5 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris (see booking page for exact meeting time).
Practical Information
All the useful information to prepare for the session.
Dates and duration: open from November 15, 2025, the activity runs 'year-round.' Plan for 1h45 total (15 minutes welcome, then 1h30 gameplay).
Prices and audience: published public prices adult €22, 18-26 years €18, under 18 €15. Recommended audience from 10 years old.
Teams of 2 to 6 players. Reservation: tickets required, to be purchased online via partner platforms (Cultival, Tiqets, Fnac Spectacles, and similar sellers).
Resellers may apply service fees at purchase. Access and meeting point: Richelieu site, National Library of France, 5 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris.
Metro: Bourse Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre Accessibility: the organizer notes wheelchair access via the producer; check details when booking.
Gallery
Ready for the visit?
Plan ahead by booking your skip-the-line tickets and choose the time slot that suits you.
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